Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities

A Territorial Approach to the SDGs

A role for Cities and Regions to leave no-one behind

The OECD is developing an ambitious programme to support cities and regions to develop, implement and monitor strategies to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Approved in 2015 by the United Nations, the SDGs set the global development agenda for the next fifteen years, stimulating crucial actions for humanity and the planet. The 17 goals are action oriented, global in nature and universally applicable. They aim to reach environmental sustainability, social inclusion and economic development in both OECD member and non-member countries.

Cities and regions have a crucial role to play in SDG achievements although the 2030 Agenda was not designed specifically for or by them. Most underlying policies and investments are a shared responsibility across levels of government. It is estimated that 65% of the 169 targets underlying the 17 SDGs will not be reached without proper engagement of and coordination with local and regional governments.

The programme seeks to support interested cities and regions in fostering a territorial approach to the SDGs by;

measuring where they stand vis-à-vis the national average and their peers;

engaging a multi-level dialogue with their lower and upper levels of government to build consensus on who can do what, at what scale and how; and